Tunisia's tourism sector has experienced substantial growth, with revenue reaching 7.152 billion dinars by the end of October 2026. This represents a 3.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025 and a 25.1% rise compared to 2019. According to the Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Sofiane Tekaya, 9 million non-resident visitors were recorded during the first ten months of 2026.
The tourism sector's growth is also reflected in the consumption patterns of tourists. In 2025, the total domestic tourist consumption was 17.47 billion dinars, up from 16.1 billion dinars in 2024 and 14.6 billion dinars in 2023. This includes 12.8 billion dinars spent by non-resident visitors and 4.7 billion dinars spent on domestic tourism. The majority of these expenditures went towards accommodation, totaling 5.15 billion dinars, or 40% of the total.
The Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts presented the results of the tourism satellite accounts, which measure the sector's actual economic contribution to wealth creation and GDP. These accounts provide valuable insights into the tourism industry's performance and help inform strategic decisions. The data was presented during a plenary session at the Bardo Palace on November 15, 2026.
In terms of source markets, Europe accounted for 64.8% of Tunisia's tourism revenue in 2025. France was the leading market, followed by Germany, Poland, Italy, and the UK. The Russian market showed significant growth, with an 83% increase in revenue. Additionally, the Japanese and Chinese markets each generated over 40 million dinars in revenue.
The Tunisian government is focused on attracting high-spending tourists and improving the economic profitability of the tourism sector. The strategy involves not only increasing visitor numbers but also targeting tourists with higher disposable incomes. This approach aims to boost the sector's overall revenue and contribution to the economy.
Domestic tourism is also a significant component of Tunisia's tourism industry. During the first ten months of 2026, over 2 million Tunisian residents stayed in hotels, accounting for 35.7% of all hotel arrivals. In 2025, Tunisian tourists spent 4.7 billion dinars on domestic tourism, representing 27% of total tourist consumption.
To support domestic tourism, the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts organized the Travel Market Salon in May 2026. The event aimed to bring together tourism providers and consumers, offering discounts of up to 50% on certain packages. The ministry is also promoting advance booking, in partnership with industry professionals, to drive growth in the sector.
Key points
- Tunisia's tourism revenue reached 7.152 billion dinars by October 2026, up 3.4% from 2025 and 25.1% from 2019.
- The tourism sector's growth is driven by a strategy to attract high-spending tourists and improve economic profitability.
- Domestic tourism is a significant contributor to Tunisia's tourism industry, with over 2 million Tunisian residents staying in hotels during the first ten months of 2026.
